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March 17, 2026
Approximately 52,000 jobs in Guyana remain unfilled, highlighting a growing labour shortage amid the country’s rapid economic expansion.
This was disclosed during a recent panel discussion hosted by the BBC World Questions: Guyana.
Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh told the forum that the surge in economic activity—driven largely by the oil and gas sector—has created unprecedented employment opportunities.
According to the Minister, Guyana is experiencing a structural shift in its labour market, with demand for workers outpacing supply in several key industries.
“Over the last five years alone, we have created 104,000 new jobs. Now, in a population of a million, 104,000 jobs—it’s a lot of jobs. And those jobs, for the greater part, are being taken up by Guyanese people. But in fact, if you speak with members of the private sector, they will tell you that the jobs are being created at a rate at which one of the biggest challenges faced by the private sector is getting workers,” he noted.
The issue was acknowledged by private sector representative Clinton Urling, who was also a panelist at the forum. Urling stressed that the private sector continues to struggle to find qualified employees, warning that labour shortages could slow the pace of development if not addressed.
“From the private sector perspective, the number one binding constraint for our private sector to move forward is human capital. You want to know the shortfall in this country in terms of skilled professionals that are needed for this new oil and gas sector? 52,000. But right now, our private sector is struggling to find employees. And that is a reality that every person who’s in the private sector would tell you; that’s not just me speaking as a private sector leader,” he stressed.
Dr. Singh added that the government is actively working to equip Guyanese with the skills required to meet this demand, including investments in education and training. The administration has also introduced free tertiary education and incentives aimed at increasing participation in the workforce.
